EditorsNov 22, 2024
Out & About: Inside the CD Peacock MansionStep inside the nearly 21,000-square-foot suburban Chicago jewelry store with Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff.
AuctionsSep 23, 2016
Bulgari Flag Ring Goes For $319K at Reagan Auction
The ring, which was only expected to sell for $8,000, was the top lot at the Christie’s New York auction of The Private Collection of President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan.
This Bulgari ring, set with square-cut sapphires, rubies and diamonds in an American flag motif, knocked its pre-sale high estimate of $8,000 out of the park when it garnered $319,500 at Christie’s this week. Nancy Reagan wore it on July 4, 1986, on board the USS Iowa for Liberty Weekend, celebrating the restoration and centenary of the Statue of Liberty.
New York--Very appropriately, a Bulgari ring with an American flag motif finished as the top lot in an auction featured during Christie’s New York’s “Americana Week” series.
The ring, set with square-cut sapphires, rubies and diamonds laid out in the shape of an American flag, was only expected to sell for up to $8,000, but blew away the pre-sale estimate when it garnered $319,500.
The ring was part of the live sale of The Private Collection of President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan held Wednesday and Thursday.
The top lot of the jewelry portion of the live sale was predicted to be a Van Cleef & Arpels suite--a diamond and gold lion pendant-brooch necklace and matching ear clips that the First Lady wore on a state visit to the U.K. in 1988. Those went for $56,250 and $21,250, respectively.
Meanwhile, an 18-karat gold, platinum and diamond Bulgari bracelet, worn by Nancy Reagan at state dinners, and a four-strand cultured pearl necklace with a bezel-set oval onyx cabochon and diamonds in the center both garnered $40,000.
A set of Van Cleef & Arpels rings--two featuring calibré-cut sapphires and one solid 18-karat gold--sold for $16,250.
The matching Van Cleef lion pendant-brooch necklace with 18-karat gold and diamonds, worn on the same occasion, went for $56,250.
This cabochon black star sapphire and diamond brooch in platinum sold for $20,000.
This 18-karat gold, platinum and diamond Bulgari bracelet, worn by Nancy Reagan at state dinners, was only expected to sell for between $5,000 and $7,000, but garnered $40,000.
This necklace from Oscar Heyman & Brothers circa 1976 features a circular-cut diamond, calibré-cut sapphire and ruby “76” in platinum and 18-karat gold, hanging from an 18-karat gold chain. It realized a price of $23,750.
A four-strand cultured pearl necklace centered on a bezel-set oval onyx cabochon, within a 14-karat gold and circular-cut diamond surround, went for $40,000.
This Van Cleef & Arpels set--featuring two calibré-cut sapphire bands, one in 18-karat gold and one in 14-karat gold, and an 18-karat gold band--sold for $16,250.
These earrings worn by Nancy Reagan during a visit with Margaret Thatcher in 1988 were designed as an 18-karat gold lion’s head with circular-cut diamond eyes and a suspended textured gold hoop. They sold for $21,250.
Christie’s sales of the Reagan’s possessions also encompassed furniture, decorative works of art, books, memorabilia, paintings, drawings and prints from their home in Los Angeles, with total sales between the two days realizing more than $5.7 million.
The auction also has an online component, which has 261 lots including items they used to entertain, photographs and books, as well as more jewelry. That runs through Sept. 28.
Proceeds from the sales benefit The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, a nonprofit, non-partisan organization created by Reagan that maintains the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, the Reagan Center for Public Affairs, the Walter and Leonore Annenberg Presidential Learning Center and its Discovery Center, and the Air Force One Pavilion.
More on Auctions
The Latest
CollectionsNov 22, 2024
Piece of the Week: Xander Jane’s ‘Spiked’ Pearl StudsThese punk-inspired earrings from the new Canadian brand’s debut collection reveal the alter ego of the classic pearl.
SourcingNov 22, 2024
Facets of Fire Expands to Include Pear, Marquise DiamondsThe company brings its nanotechnology to two new fancy cuts for diamonds that feature its signature color and brilliance.
Brought to you by
Navigating Cybersecurity: Essential Guidance for JewelersFrom protecting customer data to safeguarding inventory records, it's crucial to learn how to tackle cybersecurity challenges.
Supplier BulletinNov 21, 2024
Tasha R Releases 2025 Labbelle Lab Diamond Jewelry CatalogSponsored by Tasha R
Weekly QuizNov 21, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
MajorsNov 21, 2024
Harris Jewelry Ordered to Reopen Claims Portal for Refund RequestsA federal court found that the jewelry store chain violated terms of the settlement reached after it was accused of defrauding customers.
CollectionsNov 21, 2024
Channel Elphaba in Muse’s ‘Have a Heart x Cynthia Erivo’ CollectionCynthia Erivo chose Dreams of Hope, an organization dedicated to empowering LGBTQA+ youth, as the charity for this year’s collection.
Brought to you by
Enhance Your Expertise with IGI’s In-Person Courses in NYCThis fall, sharpen your skills in jewelry grading, quality control and diamond assessment.
MajorsNov 21, 2024
Rocksbox Opens Pop-Up Store in San FranciscoThe new space was designed to evoke a warm, inviting vibe.
IndependentsNov 21, 2024
Mary Moses Kinney Is Now Part of The Edge’s Team Kinney, who spent nearly 30 years at IJO, has been hired to head Abbott Jewelry Systems’ new virtual marketplace.
CrimeNov 20, 2024
Sotheby’s to Pay $6.25M Settlement to NY State for Alleged Tax FraudThe auction house was accused of helping clients avoid paying taxes on millions of dollars’ worth of art purchased from 2010 to 2020.
Events & AwardsNov 20, 2024
Kering Debuts New Jewelry Award With Sustainability FocusThe four finalists will present their pieces at the 2025 JCK Las Vegas show.
CollectionsNov 20, 2024
Pamela Love Channels Surrealist Artists in New CollectionThe “Camera Oscura” collection showcases earring designs celebrating female Surrealist artists Claude Cahun and Leonor Fini.
Policies & IssuesNov 20, 2024
Columbia Gem House Raises $10K for Reforestation EffortsThe money will fund the planting of 10,000 trees in critical areas across Oregon, Arizona, Montana, and other regions.
Events & AwardsNov 20, 2024
The Jewelry Symposium Opens Registration, Scholarship ApplicationsThe event centered on advancing jewelry manufacturing technology will return to Detroit in May 2025.
CrimeNov 19, 2024
Woman Killed in Armed Robbery of Sacramento Jewelry StoreLocal reports identified the woman as the wife of the jewelry store owner.
MajorsNov 19, 2024
Trove Opens First US Flagship in NYCThe Australian jewelry box brand’s new West Village store will showcase new jewelers each month through its Designer in Residence program.
CollectionsNov 19, 2024
Snoop Dogg’s New Jewelry Collection Is All About Love“Lovechild” was created in partnership with Carolyn Rafaelian’s Metal Alchemist brand.
EditorsNov 18, 2024
Q&A: Helzberg CEO Brad Hampton on the Jeweler’s RebrandHampton discussed how Helzberg is improving the customer experience and why it was inspired by the company formerly known as Dunkin’ Donuts.
Policies & IssuesNov 18, 2024
Reciprocity Jewels Returns to NYC Jewelry WeekThe group will host several curated events and an exhibition of designer jewelry made with Peruvian gold traceable to the miners’ names.
CollectionsNov 18, 2024
Dolly Parton Shines in Collaboration with Kendra ScottThe collection honors the 50th anniversary of Dolly Parton’s “Love is Like a Butterfly” song, which shares a birth year with Kendra Scott.
Events & AwardsNov 18, 2024
IGI Jewelry Design Competition ReturnsThis year’s theme asks designers to take inspiration from classic fairy tales.
EditorsNov 15, 2024
Why Fine Jewelry Belongs at New York Comic ConSenior Editor Lenore Fedow makes the case for why more jewelers should be appealing to nerds at the annual event.
CollectionsNov 15, 2024
Marie Lichtenberg Battles Counterfeits with New ‘Raiz’in Scapular’ DesignsThe latest “Raiz’in” drop showcases a newly designed “Scapular” necklace and donates a portion of the proceeds to Make-A-Wish France.
WatchesNov 15, 2024
Piece of the Week: Citizen’s Commemorative Pocket WatchNo. 1 out of 100, the timepiece was created to mark Citizen’s 100th anniversary and will be auctioned off at Sotheby’s next month.
Recorded WebinarsNov 15, 2024
Watch: 10 Tips to Keep Your Jewelry Store Secure On the latest episode of “My Next Question,” two experts share best practices for store security during the holidays and year-round.
AuctionsNov 14, 2024
18th-Century Diamond Necklace Sells for Nearly $5M Sotheby’s sold the necklace, which potentially has ties to Marie-Antoinette, for $4.8 million to a woman bidding via phone.
